Quotes About Clues

La mejor receta para la novela policíaca: el detective no debe saber nunca más que el lector.

I think each one of us in his secret heart fancies himself as Sherlock Holmes.

I'd like to give these detective story writers a course of routine work. They'd soon learn how most things are untraceable and nobody ever notices anything anywhere!

My good Japp, is it possible that you throw the mud in my eyes? I know well enough that it is the Chinaman you suspect. But you are so artful. You want me to help you—and yet you drag the red kipper across the trail.

Poirot closed his eyes. What he perceived mentally was a kaleidoscope, no more, no less. Pieces of cut-up scarves and rucksacks, cookery books, lipsticks, bath salts; names and thumbnail sketches of odd students. Nowhere was there cohesion or form. Unrelated incidents and people whirled round in space. But Poirot knew quite well that somehow and somewhere there must be a pattern . . . The question was where to start.. . . .

There you are, Ariadne," said Robin. "The whole plot of your next novel presented to you. All you'll have to do is work in a few false clues, and—of course—do the actual writing.

Murder develops. Yes, like a photograph, isn't it?

Poirot said "you will find,M.le docteur,if you have much to do with cases of this kind,that they all resemble each other in one thing." "what is that?" I asked curiously "everyone concerned in them has something to hide

Why, he's Hercule Poirot! You know who I mean—the private detective. They say he's done the most wonderful things—just like detectives do in books.

When I know what the murderer is like, I shall be able to find out who he is.

Yes, it is as you say. You now behold a detective- a great detective, I may say- in the act of detecting!

Belgian stranger—all

A groan burst from Poirot. "What have I always told you? Everything must be taken into account. If the fact will not fit the theory—let the theory go.

We're both very crime-minded. Read a lot about it.

What's wrong with my proposition? Poirot rose. If you will forgive me for being personal - I do not like tour face, M. Ratchett, he said.

Already, at twenty-three minutes to one, Ratchett was dead—" "And it was his murderer speaking!" finished M. Bouc impressively. Poirot

Your conclusions are, I think, justified," he said. "Ulick Norman Owen! In Miss Brent's letter, though the signature of the surname is a mere scrawl the Christian names are reasonably clear-Una Nancy -in either case, you notice, the same initials. Ulick Norman OwenUna Nancy Owen-each time, that is to say, U. N. Owen. Or by a slight stretch of fancy, UNKNOWN!

Poirot. "You find out

Blood tells—always remember that—blood tells." -- Hercule Poirot

What do you expect Cust to tell you?" Hercule Poirot smiled. "A lie," he said. "And by it, I shall know the truth!

Agatha Christie

Detective stories are mostly bunkum... But they amuse people... And they're useful sometimes.

Agatha Christie

A good way behind came Hercule Poirot. He trod softly like a cat.